2016 Shelby GT350 spied

Full camo, but subtle clues tell the tale.

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The clock is ticking down on the unveiling of the 2015 Ford Mustang. In a few months, it'll finally be real, and all the speculation can end. But once the standard cars are out in the open (V6, EcoBoost, and monstrous GT), we'll still have to wait for SVT's addition to the pony party.

And this is it: the Shelby GT350, which will likely bow as a 2016 model. As we've already reported, the next snake will abandon the current GT500's lunatic-fringe 662-hp supercharged engine. It's bittersweet, because I just drove a GT500 last week, and it is a borderline religious expperience, even if it wants to break traction ALL THE TIME.

But I digress, and Ford has proven its point. It can do giant, ridiculous muscle. The new car will have a Coyote-derived V8 displacing more than 5.0 liters, but with no forced induction. It's all motor—high-powered and high-revving. And it should be a monster on the track, which is saying something, because our sources tell us that the new GT on sticky rubber will be quicker around a circuit than the last Boss 302 was. This will be even better.

So, what are the big "tells" in these spy shots? As our shooters at KGP point out, the front-end burkha has mesh inserts on the hood and just aft of the front wheels. Those exist because functional vents lie behind them. Also note the upgraded wheels and tires, as well as drilled brake rotors on this prototype. Finally, look at that grille. Its leading edge appears to be lower and protrudes more than on the standard GT prototype that's been snapped before.

A shot of the steering wheel reveals the same controls found on the current crop of MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles. It should come as no surprise that the no-buttons tech is headed to the ponycar, but that doesn't mean we need to be happy about it.